CHAPTER SIXTY

"What do you intend to do Your Excellency?" Shizu asked.

"We need to get rid of that Filial piety once and for all." Umako replied.

"How are we going to do that Your Excellency?" Shizu asked.

"As it is right now that Her Highness Imperial Consort Toyomike has given birth to another son this is the best opportunity that we have to strike the iron when it is still hot and I believe that even the Dowager Empress Ishi Hime won't see it coming." Umako replied.

"What should I do Your Excellency?" Shizu asked.

"Rumour is a great Traveller and that being the case I want you to help me spread a certain rumour." Umako replied.

"Tell me Your Excellency." Shizu said.

"THE CHILD OF A SOGA MOTHER SHALL SIT ON THE CHRYSANTHEMUM THRONE AND GRACE THE ANNALS OF HISTORY IN TIME BRINGING THE LIGHT OF THE WEST TO THE VERY LAND OF THE RISING SUN." Umako replied.

"Yes Your Excellency." Shizu replied as he bowed his head and he also walked away while he left his master standing right there and looking up at the sky and he smiled at himself while taking in a deep breath.

Consort Kasuga was seated in her Chambers and there as she examined the two of her sons she watched them slowly writing the pieces of paper.

She read the character on Prince Naniwa's paper.

"Peace." She said.

"Yes, mother." Prince Naniwa said.

She shifted her eyes and read what was written on her other son's paper.

"Honour." She said.

"Yes." Prince Kasuga replied.

At that point, the doors of her Chambers were flung open and her daughter Princess Kuwata walked in along with Teru.

"Mother?" She said.

"Princess." Consort Kasuga called.

"I need to talk to you in private." Princess Kuwata replied.

Consort Kasuga looked at both her sons before she stood up from where she was seated and she walked over to the both of them.

"What is it?" Consort Kasuga asked.

"Her Highness, Imperial Consort Toyomike." Princess Kuwata replied.

"What happened to her?" Consort Kasuga asked.

"Her Highness just delivered another son." Princess Kuwata replied and at once, Consort Kasuga's eyes were wide open that she looked surprised.

"Another son?" She asked.

"Yes." Princess Kuwata replied.

"All this time, we have no much more of it to waste." Consort Kasuga replied.

"How long has it been Your Highness?" Teru asked.

"The Princes have been slowly cultivated and I have a reason to believe that they are competent as His Majesty is still caught up in the struggle to determine who exactly should succeed him right now I have a reason to believe that we shouldn't delay this anymore." Consort Kasuga replied.

"What should we do Your Highness?" Teru asked.

"I need to talk to my father right away." Consort Kasuga replied.

"Yes." Teru replied as she bowed her head and then she withdrew from the room leaving her Mistress with her daughter.

"Mother." Princess Kuwata called.

"Can you do something for me?" Consort Kasuga asked.

"What is it mother?" Princess Kuwata asked.

"I need you to help me request to have a walk with your father and when he agrees I need you to take him to Ise Grand shrine." Consort Kasuga replied.

"Mother, what are you going to do?" Princess Kuwata asked.

"Do you not trust me?" Consort Kasuga asked.

"Mother, I trust you much more than anything else." Princess Kuwata replied.

"You just wait and see." Consort Kasuga said, "If everything works out in our favor remember this is the best that we can do for your brothers." She added.

"Yes mother." Princess Kuwata replied.

"We are going to conjure the most beautiful tension that the Palace has ever seen." Consort Kasuga said as she smiled ghastly while she looked at her sons that were still practicing their calligraphy skills.

Emperor Bidatsu was seated with his wife and they were looking at their son.

"Your Majesty." Imperial Consort Toyomike called.

"Shhhh." Emperor Bidatsu quietened her, "you'll awaken him." He added.

"Alright Your Majesty." Imperial Consort Toyomike whispered with a smile on her face.

"I was so worried back there." Emperor Bidatsu said.

"Why Your Majesty?" Imperial Consort Toyomike asked.

"Because I was afraid that the pain was much too unbearable for you to handle." Emperor Bidatsu replied.

"For us women the more that we deliver the more we get used to it." Imperial Consort Toyomike replied.

"Really?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"Besides, I had to think about you and I forgot about the pain." Imperial Consort Toyomike replied.

The Emperor seemed to be quite flattered while he smiled at her.

"Thank you." He said.

"Why?" Imperial Consort Toyomike asked.

"You thought about me even during your most trying moment." Emperor Bidatsu replied.

"I am only thankful to have you for a husband." Imperial Consort Toyomike remarked.

All of a sudden, Miwa no Sakau walked into the room.

"Your Majesty." He said as he bowed down his head.

"What is it?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"Her Imperial Highness Princess Kuwata is requesting to have an audience with you." Miwa no Sakau replied and at once Emperor Bidatsu looked at his wife who smiled and nodded her head at him.

"Dear." He called.

"She is also your daughter." Imperial Consort Toyomike said. "Besides, you've already been there for me she needs a father at the moment." She added.

"Alright then, I'll be back as soon as possible." Emperor Bidatsu said.

"Don't worry about me, I understand Your Majesty very well so you can take your time after all with Prince Wohari, I am not going anywhere." Imperial Consort Toyomike said.

"Thank you for being understanding." Emperor Bidatsu said.

"Your welcome." Imperial Consort Toyomike replied as her husband stood up and leaning over he pecked her on her left cheek before he walked away while she continued to rock her baby's crib as she smiled at it.

Emperor Bidatsu walked out of his room and there in the Courtyard he saw his daughter standing right in front of him.

"Greetings father." She said as she bowed her head.

"At ease." Emperor Bidatsu said while she stood up right as he made his descent right by her side.

"Why did you wish to see me now?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"Congratulations father, I just wanted to say this." Imperial Princess Kuwata replied.

"Is there something else?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"To show my sincere gratitude to heaven for receiving a brother I wanted to go to the temple but mother is still tired and she's not moving I had no one else to turn to except you." Princess Kuwata replied.

"So you wanted us to go together?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"If you are not busy, father." Princess Kuwata replied as she bowed her head so humbly.

"Very well then, let's go." Emperor Bidatsu said as he pointed ahead while his daughter leading the way they walked away from the Palace.

Imperial Consort Toyomike stood up right when Kabane and Sina walked inside the room.

"Your Highness." They said as they bowed their heads.

"The tides must already be starting to become violent." Imperial Consort Toyomike remarked.

"Apparently Your Highness, there are rumours that are spreading amongst the people already." Sina said.

"And what do they say?" Imperial Consort Toyomike .

"THE CHILD OF A SOGA MOTHER SHALL SIT ON THE CHRYSANTHEMUM THRONE AND GRACE THE ANNALS OF HISTORY IN TIME BRINGING THE LIGHT OF THE WEST TO THE VERY LAND OF THE RISING SUN." Sina replied.

"How intriguing." Imperial Consort Toyomike said.

"What are we going to do about this Your Highness?" Kabane asked.

"Nothing." Imperial Consort Toyomike replied.

"Your Highness." Sina said.

"It's not that I am calm and it's not that I am not worried at all, however at the moment if there is something that we can do then it is to withdraw from the stage and watch as everything falls into place." Imperial Consort Toyomike said.

"Enlighten us Your Highness." Kabane requested.

"My enemies are coming out of hiding if not now then very soon, and I had prepared for this for a very long time." Imperial Consort Toyomike said, "Tell the Courtiers that follow me to quit the talk of the Crown Prince and let them not even be tempted to think about it because one way or another the disloyal shall fall and the humble are about to be exalted." Imperial Consort Toyomike said.

Dowager Empress Ishi Hime was seated inside her chambers when Hinote walked in.

"Your Highness." He said as he bowed his head.

"There must be something that you are here to report to me." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime said.

"Yes Your Highness." Hinote replied.

"And what is it?" Dowager Empress Ishi Hime replied.

"There's a rumour that's spreading amongst the people." Hinote replied.

"Tell me." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime said while he leaned over and whispered it into her ear.

The Dowager Empress who was already absent minded quickly turned to him.

"Seriously?" She asked so surprised.

"Yes Your Highness." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime said.

"Why would Her Highness do that and why would something of the sort spread following the birth of her child?" Dowager Empress Ishi Hime asked.

"I don't know Your Highness." Hinote replied.

"Burning her own bridges, that doesn't sound like Imperial Consort Toyomike." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime said.

"In my opinion Your Highness, perhaps it is likely that she wasn't the one that conjured up this message." Hinote said.

"We can not be too certain because most times Her Highness is capable of conjuring her own trouble in order to turn herself into a heroine that is intelligent and smart so if what you are saying persists then certainly, who is it most likely to be?" Dowager Empress Ishi Hime asked.

"I can hire people to investigate it." Hinote said.

"No need." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime said, "That's our least pressing matter at this very moment." She added.

"Perhaps Your Highness has something else in mind?" Hinote replied.

"This is a rare opportunity and who cares if it is Imperial Consort Toyomike's idea or it isn't, one way or another it is something that we can certainly use to our own advantage." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime said.

"What are we going to do Your Highness?" Hinote asked.

"This is perhaps the right justification that we need to compel his Majesty to choose an heir apparent to the throne and considering that Imperial Consort Kasuga won't be seated when she hears this then to watch her closely is what we are going to do.

One way or another her clout is going to suffice in the Imperial Court and tell the Courtiers that when it happens then we are going to strike immediately while the iron is still hot.

Emperor Bidatsu and Princess Kuwata arrived at the entrance of the Ise Grand shrine.

There they were greeted by a couple of priests as they continued inside while they halted in the Courtyard and gazed at the magnificent structure.

"Your Majesty." The people that were passing by greeted him while he bowed his head slightly and greeted them in return.

"Let's go and pray father." Imperial Princess Kuwata said as she led the way to the main building.

Slowly as they mounted the stairs to get inside, the Emperor overheard a couple of people talking.

"Have you heard the news yet?" One stranger asked and the Emperor Halton in his footsteps he chose to eavesdrop the conversation.

"Apparently, Her Highness the Empress was infuriated when she heard the Prophecy of the Child of a Soga mother sitting on the Chrysanthemum throne." The stranger said.

"You misheard." The other rebuked, "The truth is that Her Highness the Imperial Consort gave birth to a son and apparently she is the one that asked the Courtiers to spread that rumour so that His Majesty the Emperor in fulfilment of the Prophecy he would have to name her elder son the heir to the throne." He added.

"I heard that she was once accused of voodoo and she got away with it and if Her Highness the Empress is not careful then in a break with our traditions a Consort's son shall have gained a greater right to the throne than the most legitimate wife's child." Another said.

"There are many talented and older Princes why would His Majesty consider such a young child whose uncertainty of surviving childhood is most questionable?" They asked amongst themselves.

Princess Kuwata who noticed that her father wasn't following slowly returned to him and then she held his hand.

"Father?" She called.

"My dear." He replied.

"Aren't you coming inside?" She asked.

"Let's go." Emperor Bidatsu replied as he pushed her deeper and deeper into the shrine while the words that all the other men had said kept on lingering through his mind.

Consort Kasuga was walking Through the streets while she wore a hat with a veil over which shielded her from the public eye.

She mounted the stairs and quickly she climbed up into the the Courtyard of Honourable Kasuga no Nakakimi no Omi.

She was led through it and she eventually walked into the living room where she found her father and a few other Courtiers waiting.

"Your Highness." They said to her as they bowed their heads.

"She removed the veil that was covering her head and there in their midst she say down with them picking up a small cup of tea and she sipped at it before placing it down.

"I am certain that you have already heard about everything." Consort Kasuga said.

"Yes Your Highness." They all said in unison.

"About why I called you here you must know it as well." Consort Kasuga said.

"Yes Your Highness." They replied once again.

"As it is at the moment there are very many Princes in the Royal Palace but there can only be one Crown Prince in the whole Kingdom and considering the fact that at the moment the Emperor's favourite has delivered another son to the Imperial house then I believe that before us all today there is a very great scourge that we must tackle." Consort Kasuga said.

"What do you propose that we do Your Highness, because as it is the Empress and the Dowager Empress herself are not going to be supportive of the thought of installing one of the twins as the Emperor's Crown Prince?" Honourable Kasuga said.

"I understand that very well but there is not much for us to worry because if we are planning on our own side they must also be planning on theirs." Consort Kasuga said.

"So what do you suggest that we do Your Highness?" One of the Courtiers asked.

"At this rate to discredit the Eldest son of the Emperor from succeeding the throne I believe it shall be something that shall be most easy a task for us to accomplish." Consort Kasuga replied. "As long as it's natural for Prince Oshisako no Hikohito no Ōe to be threatened then by all means it's also quote easy for us to turn a very righteous son into a rebel." Consort Kasuga replied.

"What are we going to do Your Highness?" The Courtiers asked.

"Don't worry." Consort Kasuga said, "You can leave everything else to me as you prepare to draft a memorial that is supposed to Impeach Imperial Prince Oshisako no Hikohito no Ōe and you shall present it to His Majesty and about the treason plot you can leave everything else to me." She added.

"Yes Your Highness." They all replied as they bowed their heads.

"No one amongst us must expose yourself and you shall not send and share letters between one another except through me." Consort Kasuga said.

"Yes Your Highness." They all replied as she put on her veiled hat and standing up she bowed her head before she walked out of the room.

The Courtiers that had been seated with her also slowly stood up and at once they started dispersing.

Dowager Empress Ishi Hime was seated in her Chambers when Empress Hirohime walked inside.

"Mother." She said as she bowed her head to her.

"Your Highness." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime said while she pointed at the seat that was right next to her.

"What is it mother?" Empress Hirohime asked.

"We needn't be hasty so have you planned everything in advance?" Dowager Empress Ishi Hime asked.

"I believe it's all ready Your Highness." Empress Hirohime replied.

"I want you to prepare the Imperial Prince Oshisako no Hikohito no Ōe and tell him to inform some of his best friends that they shall gather at Awaji on a hunting trip in a week's time." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime said.

"Yes Your Highness." Empress Hirohime said as she pulled out an envelope from underneath her sleeve and then placing it on the table she handed it over to the Dowager Empress who took it into her possession.

She opened it and she looked through it.

"I figured out that it could be a little something that we needed to know." Empress Hirohime said.

"You are so conniving." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime remarked.

"I learnt it from you Your Highness, I believe that it could really help us some time in the future as I had anticipated this day." Empress Hirohime replied.

The Dowager Empress also pulled out a very small envelope from her sleeve and sliding it over her daughter in law took it and opening it she also read it's contents.

"I suppose we think alike because I too had conjured the same truck." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime said with a ghastly smile on her face.

"Then I do believe that the hour is at hand and now we do not need to confirm whether we are accurate or not given that they all say the same thing." Empress Hirohime said.

"All that's left to be done is to lure the fish onto the hook." Dowager Empress Ishi Hime said as they both smile at one another.

Consort Kasuga had returned to the Palace and at that very moment Teru walked up to her ear and there she whispered something into it.

Consort Kasuga smiled.

"How wonderful!" She remarked as she walked farther into her Chambers where she sat down.

"When will the hunting trip be?" Consort Kasuga asked.

"I have confirmed that it shall take place in a week's time." Teru replied.

"Then we shall strike then." Consort Kasuga said.

"Your Highness, shouldn't we take the Dowager Empress and the Empress Consort to be a little bit too vague at the moment?" Teru asked.

"There's no need for that." Consort Kasuga said, "They are too cunning and I believe that I have already prepared them a present." She added.

"Very well then Your Highness." Teru said as she bowed her head.

"I want you to fetch the two Princes and ask them to prepare to go see their father when I tell them to and this time around, they are going to present him a very wonderful gift they have the liberty to choose what it should be." Consort Kasuga said.

"Yes Your Highness." Teru replied and bowing her head she withdrew from her Mistress' presence.

Imperial Consort Toyomike was strolling through the gardens when Sina walked up to her side a short while later.

"Your Highness." She said as she bowed her head.

"What did you find out?" Imperial Consort Toyomike asked.

"As you had expected Your Highness, the Empresses and Consort Kasuga are caught up in a slit throat competition." Sina replied.

"I feel that it has come much too soon." Imperial Consort Toyomike said.

"But even when you are aware Your Highness, why do you choose to do nothing about it?" Sina asked.

"I am asking you to be a bit more patient." Imperial Consort Toyomike replied.

"Alright Your Highness." Sina said.

"Where is his Majesty?" Imperial Consort Toyomike asked.

"Ever since he came back from the Temple a couple of days ago he hasn't been sleeping well, he has been dozing off in his memorials lately." Kabane replied.

"Send me to him." Imperial Consort Toyomike said.

"His Majesty said that he doesn't wish to see anyone." Kabane replied.

"It's alright, I know that at this moment he needs me." Imperial Consort Toyomike said.

"Very well then Your Highness." Kabane replied as they led the way to the Imperial study while Consort Toyomike being supported by Sina she walked up to the building that stood in a distance.

Emperor Bidatsu was seated in the study while looking through the Memorials when he suddenly remembered the words that he had heard the people at the temple saying.

"The truth is that Her Highness the Imperial Consort gave birth to a son and apparently she is the one that asked the Courtiers to spread that rumour so that His Majesty the Emperor in fulfilment of the Prophecy he would have to name her elder son the heir to the throne." Those words came back to his mind that he leaned over the table that was right in front of him and he massaged his forehead.

At that very moment, Miwa no Sakau walked in.

"Your Majesty." He said as he bowed his head.

"Did you get him?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"Honourable Fujiwara no Shige is here Your Majesty." Miwa no Sakau replied.

"Please let him in." Emperor Bidatsu ordered.

"Yes Your Majesty." Miwa no Sakau said as he walked out while his Minister walked in.

"Your Majesty." He said as he bowed his head.

"Please rise." Emperor Bidatsu said and the young man complied.

"Did you find out what I asked you to do?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"Yes Your Majesty." Honourable Fujiwara no Shige replied.

"So tell me right now." Emperor Bidatsu said, " What about them?" He added.

"Your Majesty, I have put in every necessary effort and I gave followed up the two, Ōmuraji Soga no Umako is a restrained man that spends most of his time looking after the flowers in his garden and he doesn't receive any visitors all that he does is to look through the military reports and all other state affairs he is responsible for, Her Highness the Imperial Consort Toyomike is no different as she in the palace during her time of pregnancy she was resting and no one tried to contact her or visit her at all." Honourable Fujiwara no Shige replied.

"It must have taken you a great deal of time to come up with everything that happened.

"Your Majesty, they are all very reserved people so I had to be very careful in all my investigations." Honourable Fujiwara no Shige replied.

"Very well then, you may leave." Emperor Bidatsu said while Honourable Fujiwara no Shige withdrew from his presence and Miwa no Sakau walked up to him.

"Your Majesty, may I ask if you are suspicious of Her Highness?" He said.

"It's nothing, I must be wrong and for that I am feeling guilty." Emperor Bidatsu replied.

"Why Your Majesty?" Miwa no Sakau asked.

"I don't know, I just happened to overhear some people gossiping when I went to the Temple with Princess Kuwata a couple of days ago." Emperor Bidatsu replied.

"And what were they saying?" Miwa no Sakau asked.

"It's nothing much, they were just some false allegations." Emperor Bidatsu replied when at that moment looking down he closed his eyes and then he started to massage his temples.

After Sato walked in a while later he led Imperial Consort Toyomike inside while the Emperor so exhausted didn't seem to notice her presence.

She carried in her hands a small teapot as she approached him and as Miwa no Sakau was about to speak up she signalled to him not to say a word while he complied.

She walked around and then sat down by her husband's side as she started to close his memorials and then place them aside while she settled the small teapot right in front of herself and she turned to her husband.

"You must have had a busy day." She said and Emperor Bidatsu startled he had already started feeling a couple of hands that were massaging his neck area.

"I am sorry to have kept you worried." Emperor Bidatsu said.

"I heard that you were sleeping in the study the last couple of days and I was so devastated as I wondered why you would choose to lie in a place that is as cramped up as this one when you have a very large Palace all to yourself." Imperial Consort Toyomike said.

"Then you understood that I must have been distracted by my Official duties." Emperor Bidatsu said.

"I understand you my dear, after all of not me then who better can feel your burdens?" Imperial Consort Toyomike said.

"You are right." Emperor Bidatsu said.

"We have all loved Nippon but you realise that you are my husband and I should be angry, at least if you are not sleeping over with me I would prefer that you spent the night covered so as not to her a cold and I hate the fact that you neglect your welfare." Imperial Consort Toyomike said.

"I am so sorry." Emperor Bidatsu said.

"Sorry isn't enough to make up for what you have done, the only way that I can feel compensated for having nearly lost you is if you take this tea that I made for you." Imperial Consort Toyomike said as she picked up the small pot and poured in a cup while she cooled it for him and she handed it over while she watched from an angle as he took it happily.

She smiled wider and wider as he took it all down.

Eventually the Emperor placed his cup down.

"If you are going to keep on looking at me like that while I am drinking then perhaps I should crave more of your tea." Emperor Bidatsu said.

"I'd be honored." Imperial Consort Toyomike said as she got more from the tea pot and she poured more in a cup for him.

"My dear." Emperor Bidatsu said.

"What is it?" Imperial Consort Toyomike replied.

"Who do you think I should consider for my future successor?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

Imperial Consort Toyomike first kept quiet as her face turned gloomy at that very moment.

"Why do you ask such a question my dear, when people start considering their successors then it is always because they are about to die." Imperial Consort Toyomike replied.

"Don't worry, I am not yet going to leave you." Emperor Bidatsu said.

"Then I don't want you to think about that at the moment, after all, the children have their own fate can we not enjoy ours?" Imperial Consort Toyomike asked.

"You should know all the Imperial Princes much better than I am, you are a member of the inner court and on the other hand, I am too busy on my side." Emperor Bidatsu said.

"Imperial Prince Oshisako no Hikohito no Ōe is a calm and benevolent child and he boasts some degree of intelligence as he is quite calculative.

Imperial Prince Naniwa is skilled at both the pen and the sword but as the pen is his twin brother's specialty, his is the sword." Imperial Consort Toyomike replied.

"I see." Emperor Bidatsu replied. "What about Imperial Prince Takeda?" He asked.

"Your Majesty, he is barely five years old and he still has a life to live, all those in the court, sibling rivalry, war, bloodshed, father and son disputes on top of that, I don't think it is the life that is cut out for him and a decision to install him at this moment would deprive him of everything desirable for a Prince that the others have enjoyed." Imperial Consort Toyomike replied.

"I see." Emperor Bidatsu Said.

"Don't concern yourself with this anymore Your Majesty, just take care of your health and I believe that time itself shall reveal the right people and bring them to us." Imperial Consort Toyomike said.

"Perhaps you are right." Emperor Bidatsu said.

"Yes I am right." Imperial Consort Toyomike replied as she leaned her head and she smiled while the Emperor himself felt very comfortable.

"Everyone in the Imperial Court expects me to stay alive so that I can give myself to the country, on the other hand, you are the only one that expects me to stay alive so that you can make life more and more comfortable." Emperor Bidatsu said.

"We swore on the day that we got married to love one another through thick and thin and mine was a vow to keep and to be a support to you in the most trying moments of this life." Imperial Consort Toyomike said as she smiled.

At that moment, Sato walked in on the both of them.

"Your Majesty." He said as he bowed his head.

"What is it?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"His Royal Highness the Imperial Prince Naniwa and his brother the Imperial Prince Kasuga are here and they are requesting to have an audience with Your Majesty." Sato replied.

Imperial Consort Toyomike looked at her husband with a smile.

Something comes up when I want to spend more time with you." Emperor Bidatsu remarked.

"They are your sons Your Majesty and that also makes them my own." Imperial Consort Toyomike said.

"Alright then, let them in." Emperor Bidatsu said.

"Yes Your Majesty." Sato replied as he withdrew from the presence of the Emperor and his wife and a short while later, the two Princes walked in with a group of valets and they halted in front of their father and going down onto their knees, they bowed their heads.

"Your Majesty." They said, "Your Highness." They added as they greeted Imperial Consort Toyomike who smiled heartily at the both of them.

"What brings you here?" Emperor Bidatsu asked.

"We were worried about your health father and seeing and hearing that you were quite sombre we brought gifts to present you with to cheer you up." Imperial Prince Kasuga replied as he bowed his head.

"What is it?" Emperor Bidatsu asked as the valets walked up to the front and then opening the boxes in their possesion the Emperor and his wife stood stood up.